09/25 CUBS (Harden) @ NY Mets (Martinez) 6:10pm CDT, CSN+

[mikeyt34]

Being a pinch hitting specialists is probably the hardest job in baseball, right up there with closing out games. Hoffpauir doesn't have the experience for this, Ward does. That's what Lou will go with.

[17 Seconds]

Being a pinch hitting specialists is probably the hardest job in baseball, right up there with closing out games. Hoffpauir doesn't have the experience for this, Ward does. That's what Lou will go with.

 

If Ward's experience is so crucial, then why has he sucked ass all season?

[hotshot13422]

uh oh, harden is throwing so fast he broke the gameday radar gun!!!

[bearjuice]

Mets announcers say:

"This is not the Rich Harden that we were expect. He kind of looks like a Jamie Moyer coming off arm surgery from the right side."

Edited September 26, 2008 by bearjuice

[mikeyt34]

Being a pinch hitting specialists is probably the hardest job in baseball, right up there with closing out games. Hoffpauir doesn't have the experience for this, Ward does. That's what Lou will go with.

 

If Ward's experience is so crucial, then why has he sucked ass all season?

 

I tend to look at his body of work as a pinch hitter, not one bad year.

[UMFan83]

Mets announcers say:

"This is not the Rich Harden that we were expect. He kind of looks like a Jamie Moyer coming off arm surgery from the right side."

 

Interesting

[David]

Mets announcers say:

"This is not the Rich Harden that we were expect. He kind of looks like a Jamie Moyer coming off arm surgery from the right side."

 

And yet... he's shut them down for 4 innings and 0 ER..

[David]

lol HUSTLE

[Butterscup1679666578]

Mets announcers say:

"This is not the Rich Harden that we were expect. He kind of looks like a Jamie Moyer coming off arm surgery from the right side."

 

And yet... he's shut them down for 4 innings and 0 ER..

 

3 innings ;)

[UMFan83]

lol HUSTLE

 

He ran to first faster than the fastballs he's firing.

[bearjuice]

Mets announcers say:

"This is not the Rich Harden that we were expect. He kind of looks like a Jamie Moyer coming off arm surgery from the right side."

 

And yet... he's shut them down for 4 innings and 0 ER..

 

That's the thing. I don't think that Harden needs the speed to be successful. Whether it's intentional or not, the loss of speed isn't a big deal; if he could have as long a career as Moyer (with his skills as a pitcher), I'd be thrilled.

[David]

Mets announcers say:

"This is not the Rich Harden that we were expect. He kind of looks like a Jamie Moyer coming off arm surgery from the right side."

 

And yet... he's shut them down for 4 innings and 0 ER..

 

3 innings ;)

 

 

Good catch. I'm not paying super close attention. :oops:

[Brian]

wasn't the big story in Harden's last start for the A's that his velocity was way down? and then he was with us his next start back in the 90's.

[17 Seconds]

Being a pinch hitting specialists is probably the hardest job in baseball, right up there with closing out games. Hoffpauir doesn't have the experience for this, Ward does. That's what Lou will go with.

 

If Ward's experience is so crucial, then why has he sucked ass all season?

 

I tend to look at his body of work as a pinch hitter, not one bad year.

 

So the fact that he blows right now is meaningless because he's been good in previous years?

 

Look, I like Ward but he has been terrible this season. You can't just expect him to suddenly stop sucking because it's the playoffs and he has "experience" (only 11 postseason AB's BTW). You have to go with who gives you a better chance to win and that's Hoffpauir.

 

By the way, I think you're under the impression that Ward's track record is a lot more glorious than it really is.

 

 

.234/.330/.385 (.715)

 

 

That is Ward's career line as a PH. Seriously, look it up. Those are some ugly numbers.

[David]

just learn to drop those types of arguments. i did.

 

you can't win them. no matter how right you may be.

[17 Seconds]

just learn to drop those types of arguments. i did.

 

you can't win them. no matter how right you may be.

 

I mean I'm not getting pissed or anything, it's nothing hostile. I'm just talking about baseball

[hotshot13422]

a pitch in the 90's, you happy now?

[Guest]

Two straight pitches at 90 mph.

 

Of course they were balls.

[mikeyt34]

I'm not arguing numbers. I'm arguing the fact that Lou will go with the experienced pinch hitting veteran player. Ward.

[Guest]

He hit 91 there against Delgado.

[UMFan83]

And now we can't fall back on his number to say he's pitching well.

[17 Seconds]

I'm not arguing numbers. I'm arguing the fact that Lou will go with the experienced pinch hitting veteran player. Ward.

 

Why do you keep touting his experience when I just showed you that the only experience he has is in sucking? I don't get that.

 

"Hey, I know you've been a terrible pinch hitter your entire career, but at least you know how to suck. You're in"

[Vinestal]

And now we can't fall back on his number to say he's pitching well.

 

2 earned through 4 is not horrible.

[Outshined_One]

If you were a hard-throwing pitcher with an injury history pitching in a meaningless game where you will be needed for the playoffs, would you be going balls to the wall or would you instead relax a bit and try not to strain yourself?

[bearjuice]

In April, if I thought that we'd be arguing on 9-25-08 about:

(1) Harden's velocity and effectiveness

(2) Whether or not Hoffpauir or Ward should be taken onto the playoff roster

 

... I'd be a very, very happy man. These are good days.